“I need to take care of myself”: a qualitative study on coping strategies, support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals
Abstract Background Social workers provide support for various groups of clients, such as refugees and homeless people. Refugees and homeless individuals represent particularly vulnerable groups in precarious living conditions. Therefore, social workers serving these clients are likely to be confron...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-020-00270-3 |
| _version_ | 1811299549043490816 |
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| author | Janika Mette Tanja Wirth Albert Nienhaus Volker Harth Stefanie Mache |
| author_facet | Janika Mette Tanja Wirth Albert Nienhaus Volker Harth Stefanie Mache |
| author_sort | Janika Mette |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Social workers provide support for various groups of clients, such as refugees and homeless people. Refugees and homeless individuals represent particularly vulnerable groups in precarious living conditions. Therefore, social workers serving these clients are likely to be confronted with extensive job demands. The aim of this study was to investigate the coping strategies of social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals and to explore their support sources and health promotion offers at work as well as their respective needs. Methods 26 semi-structured qualitative interviews were carried out with social workers in Berlin and Hamburg and analysed according to Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. Results The respondents reported various coping strategies to deal with their job demands which involved both problem-oriented (e.g. time management, setting boundaries, seeking support in conflict situations) and emotion-focused approaches (e.g. self-care, distance from work, leisure activities). In addition, they emphasised various sources of workplace (social) support, e.g. provided by team members, supervisors, and other institutions. However, unmet needs for support were also formulated by the workers, e.g. in terms of individual supervision and regular exchange. Furthermore, several employees did not know about any health promotion offers at their workplace and expressed a desire for structural and behavioural health promotion measures. Conclusions In view of the diverse needs of the workers, the results can provide a basis to design needs-based health promotion interventions for staff in social work. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:37:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6218004084254a8fadf53bf0f0c74529 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6673 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:37:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6218004084254a8fadf53bf0f0c745292022-12-22T02:57:50ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732020-06-0115111510.1186/s12995-020-00270-3“I need to take care of myself”: a qualitative study on coping strategies, support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individualsJanika Mette0Tanja Wirth1Albert Nienhaus2Volker Harth3Stefanie Mache4Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfCompetence Centre for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), University Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfCompetence Centre for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), University Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfInstitute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfInstitute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfAbstract Background Social workers provide support for various groups of clients, such as refugees and homeless people. Refugees and homeless individuals represent particularly vulnerable groups in precarious living conditions. Therefore, social workers serving these clients are likely to be confronted with extensive job demands. The aim of this study was to investigate the coping strategies of social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals and to explore their support sources and health promotion offers at work as well as their respective needs. Methods 26 semi-structured qualitative interviews were carried out with social workers in Berlin and Hamburg and analysed according to Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. Results The respondents reported various coping strategies to deal with their job demands which involved both problem-oriented (e.g. time management, setting boundaries, seeking support in conflict situations) and emotion-focused approaches (e.g. self-care, distance from work, leisure activities). In addition, they emphasised various sources of workplace (social) support, e.g. provided by team members, supervisors, and other institutions. However, unmet needs for support were also formulated by the workers, e.g. in terms of individual supervision and regular exchange. Furthermore, several employees did not know about any health promotion offers at their workplace and expressed a desire for structural and behavioural health promotion measures. Conclusions In view of the diverse needs of the workers, the results can provide a basis to design needs-based health promotion interventions for staff in social work.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-020-00270-3Social workHomelessRefugeesCopingSupportWorkplace health promotion |
| spellingShingle | Janika Mette Tanja Wirth Albert Nienhaus Volker Harth Stefanie Mache “I need to take care of myself”: a qualitative study on coping strategies, support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology Social work Homeless Refugees Coping Support Workplace health promotion |
| title | “I need to take care of myself”: a qualitative study on coping strategies, support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals |
| title_full | “I need to take care of myself”: a qualitative study on coping strategies, support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals |
| title_fullStr | “I need to take care of myself”: a qualitative study on coping strategies, support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals |
| title_full_unstemmed | “I need to take care of myself”: a qualitative study on coping strategies, support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals |
| title_short | “I need to take care of myself”: a qualitative study on coping strategies, support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals |
| title_sort | i need to take care of myself a qualitative study on coping strategies support and health promotion for social workers serving refugees and homeless individuals |
| topic | Social work Homeless Refugees Coping Support Workplace health promotion |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-020-00270-3 |
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